Snap fastener tape



ing such edges together,

Patented Mar. I3,0', l

UNITED STATES tratto PATENT GFFICE This invention relates in general to fastener tape including a strip of fastener elements attached thereto, to be applied to the edges of openings in. garments for fasten- More particularly the such fastener tape emfasteners or head and invention is directed to bodying so-called snap socket fasteners.

Snap fastener tape is known in the art, as 1o shown by my Patent No. 1,373,452 dated April 5, 1921, and others, but the manufacture has not been as economical as desired because of the dimculties encountered in sewing the snap fastener elements on the fabric strips, and particularly in l sewing the snap fastener elements on the fabric strips adequately secure to prevent the fasteners from being pulled oif or separated from the strips under the strains incident to the use of the tape. In the tape shown in my said patent, several lines of stitching are required for attaching the fastener elements to the fabric strips, and the stitching is so spaced from the fastener elements that said elements are not so securely held on the tape as is desirable where the tape is subjected to severe strains; and generally several operations are required for making the plural rows of stitches. The manufacture of the tape is therefore quite expensive.

One object of my present invention is to provide snap fastener tape of the general character described wherein al1 of the fastener elements shall be sewed on the tape with one continuous line of stiches without jump stitches or interrupted stitches and without the necessity for cutting threads between the fastener elements, and said line of stitches shall also serve to secure the plies of the fabric strip together along their longitudinal edges, whereby the tape can be rapidly sewed on automatic machines and shall be inexpensive, the stitches shall be prevented from unraveling or pulling out around the fastener elements and the fasteners shall be securely attached to the fabric strip.

Another object is to provide snap fastener tape 45 of this character wherein all fastener elements on the same strip of fabric shall be secured on the strip by a single continuous line of stitches which shall connect together the fabric plies between which the fasteners are located and shall comprise portions one completely encircling or surrounding each fastener element at its perimeter, and other portions each extending longitudinal- 1y of the strip between two adjacent fastener ele- 55 ments, whereby the fastener elements can be sefabric having separable (Cl. 2-265l curely sewed on the strip in one continuous operation on an automatic machine, and stitches shall be uninterrupted or unbroken from one end of the strip to the other so that unraveling or pulling out of the stitches shall be practically impossible.

Other objects are to provide fastener tape of the character described wherein the junction of the fastener encircling portions and the longitudinal portions of said line of stitches shall be made by lateral stitches disposed radially of the fastener elements to facilitate the sewing operation and so that the longitudinal portions of said continuous-line of stitches shall be spaced from the fastener elements and said portions can be covered and concealed on the face side of the tape by the edge of a garment without a flap or ily when the tape is secured to the latter, whereby a minimum number of lines of stitches shall be visible on the face side of the garment to ensure a neat appearance, and without the use of a flap or fly; and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawing in which corresponding and like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of cooperating strips of head and socket fastener tape showing the same applied to the edges of a garment opening and viewing the same from the face side thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one of the strips which carries the socket fastener elements.

VFigure 3 is an enlarged isometric sectional view through the tape carrying the socket fastener elements,

Figure 4 is a similar view of the tape having the head fastener elements and Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan View similar to Figure 2, showing a modification of the invention.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the reference character A designates the tape which carries the socket fastener elements, and B designates the tape which carries the head fastener elements to coopcrate with'the socket fastener elements of the tape A.

The tape -A is shown as formed of a strip of fabric comprising a single piece which is folded into a plurality of plies I, 2 and 3. The plies 2 and 3 are of substantially the same width, while 4the ply I is materially wider than the two plies 2 and 3. As shown, the plies are formed by longitudinally folding the strip of fabric at 4 to form a ply 3 and then again folding the fabric at 5 to form a ply 2 which is interposed between the plies I and 3. Obviously, instead of forming the strip of one piece of material, the strip may comprise separate pieces of fabric arranged in superposed relation.

A plurality of socket fastener elements 6 of known construction are arranged in a row in spaced relation longitudinally of the tape between the two adjacent plies I and 2 with the opening 'I of each element facing toward the ply 2. The plies 2 and 3 are formed with registering openings 8 which also register with the opening I of the socket member to permit the head of a cooperating head fastener element to enter the socket member. As shown, the socket member 6 is approximately circular in plan view and has the usual spring 9, portions of which project into the socket through slots I to engage the head II of a cooperating head fastener element I2.

The socket fastener elements 6 are securely attached to the fabric strip by means of a single continuous line of stitches passing through the plies I, 2 and 3 and including portions I3 one surrounding each socket fastener element 6 at its perimeter, and other portions I4 each running longitudinally of the strip between two adjacent fastener elements. Preferably the longitudinal portions I4 are offset or spaced from the row of fastener elements and are connected with the portions I3 by stitches I5 which extend laterally of the strip. As shown, the longitudinal portions I4, the lateral stitches I5 and the portions I3 form parts of one continuous line of stitches, and each lateral stitch I5 connects one end of one of the portions I3 with one end of an adjacent longitudinal portion I4. Also, preferably, the lateral stitches I5 are radially disposed with respect to the fastener elements 6 and at right angles to the longitudinal portions I4.

With this construction, the fastener elements can be sewed upon the fabric strip with a single continuous line of stitches and in one continuous operation so that the tape can be sewed on automatic machines, can be rapidly produced and is relatively inexpensive.

Furthermore, the portions I3 encircling the fastener elements securely hold the fastener elements against movement on the tape, and the two plies 2 and 3 overlying the face side of the socket elements eifectually reinforce the tape against the strains incident to pulls upon the socket elements in separating them from the head elements I2. The lateral stitches I5 facilitate the formation of the longitudinal portions and fastener encircling portions I3 in one continuous line, and also by the use of these lateral stitches the longitudinal portions can be spaced from the fastener elements so that said longitudinal portions may be covered by the edge portion C of a garment to which the tape is applied as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, whereby a minimum number of lines of stitches will be visible on the face side of the garment. The stitches being in one continuous line, the possibility of the stitches being pulled out or unraveled around the fastener elements is extremely remote, and by forming the fastener encircling portions I3 in a continuous line with the longitudinal portions I4, the necessity for making.

jump stitches, or for loose threads between two adjacent fastener elements is eliminated. The

lateral stitches ls being anguiariy disposed with respect to the stitches I3 and I4 restrain unraveling of the stitches I3 and I4 especially at points adjacent the fastener elements, and reinforce the attachment of the fastener elements to the tape at the ends of the fastener encircling stitches I3.

The tape may be applied to the edge portion C of a garment in the usual manner, the edge of the garment being laid over the free edge of the ply I and the corresponding edges of the plies 2 and 3 so that said edge portion overlies said longitudinal portions I4 and is in close relation to the fastener elements 6, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Lines of stitches D and E may then be run through the edge portion of the garment and the tape longitudinally thereof for securing the tape to the garment.

The complemental strip B of fastener tape which carries the head fastener elements I2, is in general similar to the tape A. The tape B is also formed of three plies of fabric I6, I1 and I8, and the head fastener elements I2 are arranged in a row in spaced relation longitudinally of the strip between the base ply I6 and the intermediate ply I1. The plies I1 and I 8 are formed with registering openings I9 through which the head II of the fastener element projects. The head elements I2 are attached to the tape by a single continuous line of stitches identical with the line of stitches described in connection with the tape A. As shown on the drawing this line of stitches includes the portions I9 which encircle the fastener elements, the portions 20 which extend 1ongitudinally of the strip between adjacent fastener elements, and the lateral stitches 2I which connect the longitudinal portions with the fastener encircling portions. The tape B may be applied to the edge portion F of a garment in the usual manner by lines of stitches G.

The fastener elements 6 and I2 of the two tapes cooperate in the usual manner of head and socket or snap fasteners, for example as shown in my above-mentioned Patent No. 1,373,452, the elements being connected by forcing the heads I I of the head members into the sockets of the socket members, and the two fastener elements being held together by the springs 9 which frictionally engage the heads II. Fastener elements are separated by pulling the tapes apart so as to withdraw the heads I I from the sockets. During this separating of the fastener tapes considerable strain is applied to the fastener elements both laterally and axially thereof. However, these strains are eifectually resisted by the portions i3 and I9 of the line of stitches which encircle the fastener elements at the perimeters of the elements and securely hold the elements against both lateral and axial movement on the tapes. The strains are further resisted by the two plies of fabric which overlie the face sides of the fastener elements, and the lateral stitches I5 and the longitudinal portions I4 of the line of stitches further reinforce the attachment of the fastener elements to the tapes.

To provide additional security in the attachment of the fastener elements to the tapes the stitches of the fastener encircling portions I3 and I9 may be doubled, or in other words, a plurality of rows of stitches 22 and 23 may be formed around the fastener elements as shown in Figure 5.

While I have shown the fastener elements as circular in plan view it should be understoo that the invention can be used in connection with fastener elements of other configurations,

acraoao 3 crinora While i have shown the fasend of one of said portions surrounding a fas niente as of a certain form, it is within tener element with one end of an adjacent longie the invention to use other types of tudinal portion.

nts, Therefore, 11 do not desire to 3. Snap fastener tape comprising a strip of ng nufse'i in the details fabric having a plurality of plies, snap fastener 6 use ci? the invention, except elements arranged in a row between two adjai the ioilowing ciairns when conu cent plies in spaced relation longitudinally of the light or the prior art. said strip, a line of stitches running through said c. tions described my invention, what i two plies longitudinally of said strip in spaced cla r11 iS. relation to one side of said row of fastener elel0 :fastener tape comprising a strip of ments, a line of stitches passing through said two` having a plurality o plies, snap fastener plies and encircling each fastener element with s between two adjacent plies in the ends cf said line in close relation to each reiation in a row longitudinally of the other, and lateral stitches passing through said la, s single continuous line of stitches two plies at right angles to said longitudinal line 15 ough said two plies and including porand in radial relation to said fastener elements esca. running between two adjacent fasand connecting said longitudinal line of stitches e ments iongitudinally of said strip in to said ends of said lines of stitches encircling ion to one side of said row of iassaid fastener elements.

i nts, portions, one encircling 4. The snap fastener tape set forth in claim 1 20 steriel element at its perimeter with the wherein said lateral stitches extend at right ani said portion in close relation to each gles to said longitudinal portions and in radial and lateral portions connecting the ends of relation to said fastener elements.

f i wvcations oi said iine of stitches 5. A fastener strip comprising a strip of fabric goor-tions which encircle said having a plurality of plies, snap fastener ele- 25 r eienients.V ments arranged between two adjacent plies in fastener tane comprising a strip of spaced relation in a row longitudinally of the a goiurality or oiies, snap fastener tape, and a single continuous line oi stitches ged between two adjacent plies passing through said two plies and including porre Jtion in a row longitudinally of the tions one encircling each fastener element at its 30 and a single continuous line of stitches perimeter with the ends of said portion in close hrcugh, said two plies-and including norrelation to each other, and other portions each tions each running between two adjacent fasrunning longitudinally of the strip between two 't er elements longitudinally of said strip ln adjacent fastener elements and offset at one side one side of said row of fasof said row of fastener elements, and lateral 35 nts, other portions, one encircling stitches connecting said longitudinal portions element at its perimeter with the and said portions which surround said fastener d oortion in close relation -to each elements.

i each connecting one LEO ROSEMAN. 

